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SIR WILLIAM WALTON

(1902-1983)

Troilus and Cressida (original version)

133:04

ACT ONE - The Citadel of troy, before the Temple of Pallas

1.

Calkas, Priests & Priestesses, Worshippers : Virgin of Troas

6:36

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2.

Troilus: Back to your hovels…

2:27

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3.

Troilus: Is Cressida a slave…

5:01

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4.

Cressida: Morning and evening I have felt your glance…

6:17

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5.

Pandarus: Forgive me…

2:17

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6.

Troilus: I haunt her beauty like a naked soul…

1:29

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7.

Calkas: 'Ask me no more!' -

2:00

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8.

Cressida: My father! Evadne, follow him!

0:38

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9.

Cressida: 'Slowly it all comes back' -

2:33

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10.

Cressida: 'Slowly it all comes back' -

3:46

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11.

Pandarus: 'Why, niece… in tears?' -

1:59

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12.

Cressida: 'Sweet sir, there's something on you mind' -

2:26

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13.

Pandarus: Dear child, you need a little comfort

3:28

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ACT TWO (beginning) - Scene One - Evening of the following day. A room at the upper floor of Pandarus' house.

14.

Pandarus: Does talking put you off?

6:14

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15.

Cressida: How can I sleep?

2:13

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16.

Cressida: At the haunted end of the day

2:58

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17.

Pandarus: Hush! Don't be so alarmed!

4:06

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18.

Troilus: If one last doubt, one lurking fear remains…

4:27

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19.

Cressida: 'New life, new love! I am born' -

4:22

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20.

Cressida: 'Now hold me close and let me lie there curled' -

1:30

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21.

Orchestral interlude. The Storm

3:01

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ACT TWO (conclusion) - Scene Two - Next morning

22.

Cressida: From isle to isle…

3:25

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23.

Pandarus: Who would go drumming… . . .

1:58

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24.

Diomede: My name is Diomede …

5:16

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25.

Troilus: This thing shall be revok'd…

5:43

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Total time: 46:28

26.

Watchman: All's well!

7:25

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27.

Cressida: Troilus! No answering sign…

5:43

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28.

Calkas: Cressid, daughter…

2:25

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29.

Cressida: You gods, o deathless gods…

2:04

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30.

Diomede: Proud, wondrous Cressida

3:30

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31.

Cressida: Take it, take it

1:25

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32.

Evadne: 'So here's an end of it all' -

1:27

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33.

Troilus: Evadne!

2:32

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34.

Cressida: Troilus!

3:29

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35.

Troilus: What is this sudden alarm?

4:44

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36.

Sextet: Diomede, Troilus, Cressida, Pandarus, Calkas and Evadne

3:15

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37.

Calkas: She has brought shame upon her father!

3:33

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38.

Crssida: 'Diomede!.… Father!…'

4:50

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Total time: 132:32

Solo:Alan Opie baritone

Solo:Arthur Davies tenor

Solo:Brian Cookson tenor

Solo:Bruce Budd bass

Solo:Clive Bayley bass

Solo:David Owen-Lewis bass

Solo:James Thornton baritone

Solo:Judith Howarth soprano

Solo:Keith Mills tenor

Solo:Nigel Robson tenor

Solo:Stephen Dowson bass

Solo:Yvonne Howard mezzo-soprano

Choral: Opera North Chorus

Orchestra: English Northern Philharmonia

Conductor:Richard Hickox

19-25 January 1995

Why not buy the whole Album?

Your selections total more than the whole disc price.

SIR WILLIAM WALTON

(1902-1983)

Troilus and Cressida (original version)

133:04

COMPACT DISC ONE

ACT ONE - The Citadel of troy, before the Temple of Pallas

1.

Calkas, Priests & Priestesses, Worshippers : Virgin of Troas

6:36

2.

Troilus: Back to your hovels…

2:27

3.

Troilus: Is Cressida a slave…

5:01

4.

Cressida: Morning and evening I have felt your glance…

6:17

5.

Pandarus: Forgive me…

2:17

6.

Troilus: I haunt her beauty like a naked soul…

1:29

7.

Calkas: 'Ask me no more!' -

2:00

8.

Cressida: My father! Evadne, follow him!

0:38

9.

Cressida: 'Slowly it all comes back' -

2:33

10.

Cressida: 'Slowly it all comes back' -

3:46

11.

Pandarus: 'Why, niece… in tears?' -

1:59

12.

Cressida: 'Sweet sir, there's something on you mind' -

2:26

13.

Pandarus: Dear child, you need a little comfort

3:28

ACT TWO (beginning) - Scene One - Evening of the following day. A room at the upper floor of Pandarus' house.

14.

Pandarus: Does talking put you off?

6:14

15.

Cressida: How can I sleep?

2:13

16.

Cressida: At the haunted end of the day

2:58

17.

Pandarus: Hush! Don't be so alarmed!

4:06

18.

Troilus: If one last doubt, one lurking fear remains…

4:27

19.

Cressida: 'New life, new love! I am born' -

4:22

20.

Cressida: 'Now hold me close and let me lie there curled' -

1:30

21.

Orchestral interlude. The Storm

3:01

TT

70:08

COMPACT DISC TWO

ACT TWO (conclusion) - Scene Two - Next morning

1.

Cressida: From isle to isle…

3:25

2.

Pandarus: Who would go drumming… . . .

1:58

3.

Diomede: My name is Diomede …

5:16

4.

Troilus: This thing shall be revok'd…

5:43

Total time: 46:28

5.

Watchman: All's well!

7:25

6.

Cressida: Troilus! No answering sign…

5:43

7.

Calkas: Cressid, daughter…

2:25

8.

Cressida: You gods, o deathless gods…

2:04

9.

Diomede: Proud, wondrous Cressida

3:30

10.

Cressida: Take it, take it

1:25

11.

Evadne: 'So here's an end of it all' -

1:27

12.

Troilus: Evadne!

2:32

13.

Cressida: Troilus!

3:29

14.

Troilus: What is this sudden alarm?

4:44

15.

Sextet: Diomede, Troilus, Cressida, Pandarus, Calkas and Evadne

3:15

16.

Calkas: She has brought shame upon her father!

3:33

17.

Crssida: 'Diomede!.… Father!…'

4:50

Total time: 63:04

Solo: Alan Opie baritone

Solo: Arthur Davies tenor

Solo: Brian Cookson tenor

Solo: Bruce Budd bass

Solo: Clive Bayley bass

Solo: David Owen-Lewis bass

Solo: James Thornton baritone

Solo: Judith Howarth soprano

Solo: Keith Mills tenor

Solo: Nigel Robson tenor

Solo: Stephen Dowson bass

Solo: Yvonne Howard mezzo-soprano

Choral: Opera North Chorus

Orchestra: English Northern Philharmonia

Conductor: Richard Hickox

19-25 January 1995

Notes

Released as a part of the Richard Hickox Legacy series, this essential recording of Walton’s Troilus and Cressida is widely recognised as the finest available. Edward Greenfield wrote in Gramophone that ‘[e]ven among Chandos’ many bold achievements over the years, this magnificent set of Troilus and Cressida stands out... Hickox relishes the romanticism to the full. His expressive warmth is matched by his understanding of Walton’s fiery side, with magnificent performances form the entire cast’.

Troilus and Cressida was William Walton’s first opera, commissioned by the BBC in 1947, not long after the enormous success of Benjamin Britten’s Peter Grimes. Composing the opera proved a difficult task for Walton and only after seven years, in 1954, did the premiere take place, in Covent Garden. For a revival in 1976, Walton removed about thirty minutes of music and adapted the soprano part of Cressida to bring it within the range of the mezzo-soprano Dame Janet Baker. The version recorded here follows Walton’s more concise, shortened score whilst returning the part of Cressida to its original soprano register.

Based on Chaucer’s classic love-tale Troilus and Criseyde, the opera represents Walton’s desire to engage with traditional operatic themes. Walton wanted to write a romantic, ‘Pucciniesque’ opera and the rich scoring and many memorable melodies certainly invite comparison.

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Reviews

“… It has not only bowled me over but has raised my appreciation of Sir William and his noble masterpiece.” – James H North

“… if you are interested in the complete opera, general consensus seems to be that Hickox is the one to get.” – Phillip Scott

Fanfare - January/February 2015

“…Arthur Davies’s free-ranging tenor has brilliant clarity, yet he sings sensitively. His English diction is of extraordinary clarity. Judith Howarth has the voice and temperament for Cressida, encompassing the high tessitura with ease … Richard Hickox seems the ideal interpreter, stressing the sheer beauty of the score but never dragging the pace. If you have despaired that 20th Century opera was all ugly and dissonant, think again. Walton’s opera is as beautiful as one could wish and has a plot and characters we can care about.”

Charles H Parsons - American Record Guide - January/February 2015

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About Chandos

Chandos Records is one of the world's premier classical music record companies, best known for its ground breaking search for neglected musical gems. The company has pioneered the idea of the 'series' and proudly includes series of such composers as Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky, Parry, Walton, Grainger, Berkeley and Bridge. Renowned for its superb sound quality, Chandos has won many prestigious awards for its natural sound.